TOBIE & MATT is the new stunningly photographed food, wine and travel series from LifeStyle FOOD Channel.
Featuring best mates, chef Tobie Puttock (Fifteen Restaurant Melbourne and Jamie's Kitchen Australia) and sommelier and wine writer Matt Skinner (Head of wine operations for Fifteen Restaurant Group and author of The Juice), TOBIE & MATT is a fantastic food and wine journey through Europe with our backpacker gourmets.
"The audience for food programs is changing. It’s getting younger and more male, it’s cool to be able to cook and know something about wine,” said Trevor Eastment, Director of Programming and Production for LifeStyle FOOD.
“We think Tobie and Matt are the right talent for the times. They are accessible and have a chilled out, relaxed attitude to good food and wine and good times, which is perfect for this new audience. At the same time they have the knowledge and credibility to appeal to more traditional food audiences.”
Tobie returned to Australia from Europe in 2005 to set up Fifteen Restaurant in his home town of Melbourne and Matt returned to Australia late last year. Seizing their last opportunity for some time to travel around Europe together, they visit four famous food and wine destinations – Barcelona Spain, Bergerac France, Lucca in Italy and Athens, Greece. Some are favourite haunts and some are new experiences.
Their first task in each area is to find expat Aussies, friends of friends or locals who have spent time in Australia to act as their local guides and mentors. They then set themselves the challenge of taking just three days to absorb the local sights, flavours, wines and cooking styles. At the end of this time Matt selects a stunning local wine which Tobie then matches to a menu of three locally inspired dishes cooked in real time to serve up for their hosts and mentors. Their quick assimilation of the local flavours in each destination gives the viewer a fantastic insight into the local food and wine, while giving the guys a challenge to put their knowledge to the test.
Discover some of Europe’s famous food and wine destinations with recipes and wine recommendations from Tobie and Matt delivered in their easy to follow, Aussie way. This four-part series is produced by Wall to Wall Pictures for LifeStyle FOOD Channel.
EPISODE ONE - BARCELONA, SPAIN
Tobie and Matt are in Barcelona, Spain and visit expat Aussie chef Sarah Stothart, owner and chef of downtown restaurant, Tapioles 53. At Tapioles 53, Sarah has created a restaurant where the menu changes daily as she sources only the freshest ingredients from small local suppliers.
RECIPES
Roast Chicken with Apple Salt Cod Roquettes Suquet
WINE
Capcanes Mas Donis Rosato, 2006
EPISODE TWO - BERGERAC, FRANCE
Tobie and Matt have arrived in Bordeaux, France and head south to visit chef DanyChouet and partner Trish Hobbs who live in the beautiful Perigord area not far from a town called Malcournet.
RECIPES
Ceps on Toast Griolled Duck breast Rolled Pork with Dressed Cannellini Beans
WINE
Chateau de la Jaubertie Cuvee Mirabelle Rogue, 2004
EPISODE THREE - LUCCA, ITALY
This week, Tobie and Matt journey to one of Tuscany’s best kept secrets, Lucca. Approximately 150kms from Florence, Lucca is one of the richest areas in Tuscany for history, tradition and culture..
RECIPES
Pappa Pomodoro Slow Bolognese Tagliata Di Manzo
WINE
Fontodi Chianti Classico, 2005
EPISODE FOUR – ATHENS, GREECE
In this episode, Tobie and Matt are in Athens to catch up with a mate of theirs, Kostas, who Tobie worked with at Café Cuccini in Melbourne 13 years ago.
RECIPES
Pan fried Snapper Seafood Soup Zucchini Frietters
WINE
Kitima Kosta Lizerdis ‘Amethystos’ White, 2006
